The Regional Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMD) for Central Sulawesi Province 2021-2026 sets a total target of 100,000 ha, which includes 25,000 ha per year for social forestry. Based on this plan, social forestry is capable of supporting the various ecological functions in ways that are both economically and socially beneficial to surrounding communities through partnership schemes. With these goals in mind, the Central Sulawesi Provincial Forestry Service, supported by FORCLIME, held a coordination meeting on 5 October 2021 with the aim of developing an action plan capable of accelerating social forestry manage-ment. The meeting, opened by the Head of the Forestry Service, Dr.Nahardi, was attended by representa-tives from the Forest Management Unit Forum (KPH), the Social Forestry Working Group, Tadulako Univer-sity, the Regional Secretary of Central Sulawesi Province, the Cooperatives and UMK Office and the Trade and Industry Office.

In his speech, Dr. Nahardi affirmed that social forestry was closely related to poverty alleviation and thus supported the vision put forward under the Central Sulawesi Province Regional Development 2021-2026 programme, specifically, ‘Move Quickly Towards a More Prosperous and More Advanced Central Sulawesi’. Furthermore, Dr. Nahardi asserted that social forestry can:
1. Support the enhancement of productivity in relation to food crops, plantations, fisheries, livestock and other commodities.
2. Realize an increase in community welfare through the economic empowerment of the community and through the strengthening of institutions.
3. Encourage the formation and increase the productivity of leading regional sectors.

During the preparation of an action plan aimed at accelerating the management of social forestry, various issues will be taken into consideration, including: appropriate sources of funding, allocation of funds/capital resources, determination of superior/mainstream commodities in each region, types of ac-tivities to be developed, communities able to utilize forest resources sustainably.

The results of focused discussions regarding the preparation of an action plan aimed at accelerating the management of social forestry partly comprised a matrix that addressed the following topics:
a. Policy strengthening and stakeholder support.
b. Management that will preserve the function of forest areas that support community income.
c. Institutional management aimed at achieving the independence of Social Forestry Groups through community-based forest management.

In order to follow up on this meeting, the action plan document will be finalized after it has first been re-viewed by the Head of the Central Sulawesi Provincial Forestry Service. Preparations will then be made for its dissemination to all KPHs and regional organizations that relate to the social forestry programme.

For more information, please contact:
Fikty Aprilinayati, Adviser for Sustainable Forest Management and Biosphere Reserve Management
Ismet Khaeruddin, Senior Adviser for the Biodiversity Focal Point for the KFW Forest Program 3 and Provin-cial Coordinator for Central Sulawesi